Coming upon us quickly is the big daddy of tournaments, the dance of dances, the one and only, the NCAA tournament.

The end of NCAA college basketball season is wrapping up in the predictable exciting fashion, with teams trying to get hot at the right time. Unlike NCAA football, the college basketball organization has it right, bringing us a great tournament every year.

Some root for the underdogs, some root for the power teams to do what is expected. Some like it to go chalk down to the final four, some like the idea of an 8th or 9th “super seed” getting through deep. Bottom line, it’s a finish like no other.

We have had some great champions over the last 8 years. With Syracuse winning in 2003, led by Carmelo Anthony, the Joakim Noah led Florida Gators in 2006. And the Mario Chalmers Kansas Jayhawks team in 2008. Going into the brackets, these teams were all ranked in the top end of the regular season.

There are numerous important keys for a team to power through the 60+ team tournament, including central stats like offensive rebounding, turnovers, and free throw percentage. Getting offensive boards, leads to more opportunities to score the ball, and clearly scoring the ball is the whole point of the game. Simple, right? Turnovers, always bad, again, you are then allowing the opposing team to have another chance to score that ball. Free throw shooting, these are free points. Take free points, all the time, make your free throws. Poor free throw shooting teams, don’t typically last long.

So, of the top teams in the NCAA, I am looking top ranked teams that are looked at as favorites to make a strong push in the dance, then to the final four eventually making it to “Prom.”

But, who are most likely to have the bottom fall out from beneath them during the tournament? Who will fold like a lawn chair under the pressure? Who doesn’t have that guy to carry them to the cutting down the nets party?

Firstly, in no particular order, BYU. 8th in the NCAA rankings. Scoring 82.9 a game, with stout offense, led by Jimmer Fredette’s awesome 3pt shooting, who gives them 27.9/gm. But, they lack confidence, losing leading rebounder, Brandon Davies, due to the honor code violation is leaving them empty at the PF position. They have never historically performed well in the tournament, going 12-28 in 25 appearances.

Secondly, the Purdue Boilermakers, they put up 73.2 and hold teams to just 61.0, which is 25th in the country. Led by the excellent offensive rebounding play of big man, JaJuan Johnson, but 3 of their 6 losses have been to unranked teams, including the 11-19 Iowa Hawkeyes. Surprise early exit, very possible.

And I also don’t feel confident with 4th ranked Notre Dame. Led by sharpshooting guard Ben Hansbrough, who dumps in 18.5 a game, but they don’t shoot the ball very well. With 3 of their most vital players combined shooting the rock at only 43%, on no account a good thing.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying they are locked in for catastrophe by any means. But, from the opinion of this guy, these top ended teams have the best chance of letting down their fans this year. I think they will struggle, and we will see as the monster brackets get filled in on a nightly basis, when/if they fall out earlier than expected.
 

Frank Jordan
	NBA Big Game 6 Frank Jordan just keeps on cranking out NBA Playoff Winners with another one last night. For Wednesday Frank Jordan is offering a pick on game six between the Celtics and Sixers from Philadelphia. Who will take it? Be a winner!!

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